Pampanga brightens up MPBL campaign

MANILA, Philippines — Justine Baltazar asserted his might underneath as the Pampanga Giant Lanterns trounced the Marikina Shoemasters, 83-75, last Friday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Putting his 6-foot-9 frame to good use, Baltazar snagged a league-record tying 26 rebounds to go with 16 points,  five assists and three blocks to power Pampanga to its eighth straight win, trailing only pacesetter Nueva Ecija (10-0), which subdued Marikina, 71-67, in an earlier encounter.

With Michael John Garcia, Archie Concepcion and Michelle Maynes joining forces with Baltazar, who tied JR Taganas’ 26-rebound mark, the Giant Lanterns surged beyond reach, 83-59, with 2:27 to go.

The Shoemasters took their seventh loss in 10 starts.